308 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
308 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
_Current_Cites_
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Volume 3, no. 4
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April 1992
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Library Technology Watch Program
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University of California, Berkeley
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Edited by David F.W. Robison
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ISSN: 1060-2356
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Contributors:
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Teri Rinne, Vivienne Roumani, Lisa Rowlison, Mark Takaro, Roy Tennant
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Electronic Publishing
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de Klerk, Ann "Electronic Publishing and Networking '92" College & Research
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Libraries News. 53(3) (March 1992):181-182. A brief article highlighting the
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goings on at this first annual conference sponsored in part by Meckler
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Publishing, Inc. Issues of copyright, marketing, and pricing were among the
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topics addressed at the conference by such speakers as: Mitchell Kapor,
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founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Pat Morgan of the American
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Academy for the Advancement of Science, and Karen Hunter of Elsevier. - LR
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Dannelly, Gay N. "Publishing E-Journals: Publishing, Archiving, and Access"
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posted on VPIEJ-L@VTVM1.BITNET (Thursday April 2, 1992). Dannelly, Chair of
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the Collection Development Officers for the Committee for Institutional
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Cooperation (CIC) announces a new and interesting project to establish a
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cooperative e-journal archive based on the collections of CIC's members (The
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Big Ten, the University of Chicago, Penn State and the University of Illinois,
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Chicago). Dannelly will post updates to the list as the project progresses.
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- LR
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Bailey, Charles W., Jr. "Networked-based Electronic Serials" Information
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Technology and Libraries 11(1) (March 1992):29-35. The revolution of
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electronic publishing has created both opportunities and difficult questions
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for librarians interested in providing access to electronic serials. Mr.
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Bailey points out several problems of providing access to serial materials
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which are available only via commercial electronic information systems (e.g.
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preservation, cost, availability, etc.). While these problems are quite real,
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the most significant opportunities in electronic publishing may very well
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reside within the non-commercial international computer networks. And while
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much of the information currently published on the net still mimics the
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paper equivalent, he foresees a move toward complex multimedia information
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systems, and hence different publishing "packages" than those currently used.
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Mr. Bailey considers the question of whether electronic conferences could be
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construed as serials. His conclusion is, appropriately, inconclusive, "Are they
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serials? Quite possibly." [Quite possibly they are beasts of a new kind, not
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yet defined nor treated by current cataloging standards. -lr] In considering
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the future of electronic serials, Mr. Bailey identifies 12 pressing problems
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which still need to be overcome (regarding storage, archiving, intellectual
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property laws, indexing, etc.). The article ends with an stirring call to
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action on the behalf of networked-based electronic serials. - LR
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Expert Systems and Artificial Intelligence
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Ridley, M.J. "An Expert System for Quality Control and Duplicate Detection in
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Bibliographic Databases" Program: Automated Library and Information Systems
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26(1) (Jan 1992):1-18. QUALCAT (Quality Control in Cataloging) is the name
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given to a project at the University of Bradford which uses an expert system
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to relieve the catalog of duplicate monographic records. First, records (in
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UKMARC format) are transferred into a relational database and the records are
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compared to determine whether there are duplicates (given the variation in
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record quality and cataloging style, this is no trivial task); once duplicates
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are identified the system tests for record quality and identifies (based on
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defined criteria) the catalog's best record for the title. - LR
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Hyper- and Multimedia
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Electronics 65(3) (March 1992). A trio of articles from this business-
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oriented journal address some of the obstacles that thwart the progress of
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multimedia development:
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o Curran, Lawrence "A Glut of Standards Slows Multimedia" pp. 34-35.
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Curran presents the standards debate as another of multimedia's obstacles to
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full consumer acceptance. Activities of the Interactive Multimedia
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Association (IMA), the Multimedia PC Marketing Council and others seeking
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cross-platform compatibility that could potentially simplify the proliferation
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of industry standards in multimedia.
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o Shandle, Jack "Chip Makers Take Aim at Multimedia Market" p. 36.
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This article looks at developments in microprocessor functionality that
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address multimedia applications.. By advancing multimedia hardware
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development, vendors can cultivate the field for software developments
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built on improved microprocessor capabilities.
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o -- "Multimedia's New Motto: Partner to Profit" pp. 30-32. Shandle
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reviews some of the new partnerships between multimedia vendors. The
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Microsoft/Tandy Multimedia PC consortium faces the Kaleida alliance of IBM
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and Apple in a battle for the buying public that could yield improved
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multimedia consumer products. - MT
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Ito, Russell "QuickTime in Action" MacUser 8(5) (May 1992):84- 92. Desktop
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video and multimedia authoring are among the many contributions that
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QuickTime makes to the Mac user. Carrying forward Apple's pilot/passenger
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metaphor, the QuickTime capabilities for each are spelled out in detail with
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future plans outlined for presently missing capabilities such as spreadsheet
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integration. Equipment needs and limitations of the current release are also
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described. - MT
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Kawasaki, Guy "Let the QuickTimes Roll" MacUser 8(5) (May 1992): 25-26.
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In a forthright critique of the fad of multimedia, Kawasaki raises important
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concerns about why multimedia may be over-hyped. Rather than being seen
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as a solution in search of a problem, multimedia must emerge as a tool that
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can be used to address a variety of needs if it is to grow into its full
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potential. Suggestions that could improve the viability of multimedia
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deserve a closer look by vendors who hope to create lasting products. - MT
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Luskin, Bernard J. "Designing Interactive Media: Sizzleware in CD-I" CD-ROM
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Professional 5(2) (March 1992):93-95. Analysis of multimedia design
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principles with reference to CD-I capabilities. User learning curves, issues
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of cognitive science and hardware are briefly discussed. - MT
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Yager, Tom "Practical Desktop Video" BYTE 17(4) (April 1992):106-114. The
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first of a four-part series from the BYTE Multimedia Lab on how to put
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multimedia to work, this article features a multi-platform evaluation of
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desktop video production. The integration of video with text, graphics and
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audio still relies on specialized hardware and software combinations, but
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improvements in desktop video continue to fill in the huge gap between
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broadcast quality video and home movies. A comparison weighing quality
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and ease-of-use illustrates the area where future improvements will be
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made in the field. - MT
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Information Transfer
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Casorso, Tracy "NCSU Transmission Project" posted on ILL-L@UVMVM.Bitnet
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(6 April 1992). Casorso reports on an ongoing research and demonstration
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initiative involving the NCSU Libraries and Computing Center and the
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National Agricultural Library investigating the transmission of documents
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across electronic networks directly to the researcher's computer. The
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preliminary findings indicate that the technology is feasible but that "the
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research library community is not as well prepared to investigate
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networking issues as one might expect and that Internet reliability is
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questionable." - VR
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Lynch, Clifford A. "Text Encoding Initiative: Summary Progress Report" ASIS
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Bulletin 18(3) (February/March 1992):21-22. As reflected by the title, this
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is a summary progress report. The Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) will be
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producing a revised copy of its "Guidelines for the Encoding and Interchange
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of Machine Readable Texts." Lynch explains that these guidelines are
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intended to suggest standards for entering texts into electronic form,
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exchanging them, and sharing analyses of these texts. These guidelines are
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intended for scholars in the humanities and social sciences. - VR
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Stigleman, Sue "Bibliography Formatting Software: A Buying Guide" Database
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15(1) (February 1992):15-27. Stigleman reviews various personal file
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management software packages, including Pro-Cite, Artfile, Notebook. - VR
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Networks and Networking
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Cisler, Steve "Computers, Freedom, and Privacy-2: A Report" posted in 4
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parts on PACS-L@UHUPVM1.Bitnet (April 7, 1992). This 17 page report
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covers the goings-on at the 2nd annual conference sponsored by the
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Association for Computing Machinery and 13 co-sponsors. Cisler describes
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this as one of the best conferences he has ever attended, covering such
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varied topics as, "Freedom in Cyberspace," "Ethics, Morality, and Criminality,"
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"Electronic Money," "Free Speech and the Public Telephone Network." - DR
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Coalition for Networked Information Spring 1992 Meeting of the Task Force:
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Summary Report. Available in numerous formats (prepared by Joan
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Lippincott) via anonymous ftp at ftp.cni.org in directory
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/CNI/tf.meetings/1992a.spring. Find out what was covered at the most
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recent CNI meeting. Topics included "Network Navigating and Navigators,"
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"Networked Information Professionals," and "NREN Public Policy Framework."
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- DR
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Electronic Frontier Foundation "Report to the Net: The State of the EFF Open
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Platform Initiative" EFFector ONline 2(6) (March 31, 1992):[3-7]. The EFF
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reports on its progress in ensuring that the Net is open to all, closed to
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none. The EFF proposes the speedy implementation of narrowband ISDN (a low-
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cost digital network platform) "as the platform of choice to begin building a
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National Public Information Network...." See the April 17th issue for a report
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from EFF's ISDN Lab. - DR
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Godwin, Mike "Reach Out and Tap Someone?: An Editorial" EFFector ONline
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2(8) (April 17, 1992):[1-3]. Find out why the EFF, Computer Professionals for
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Social Responsibility, the ACLU, IBM, and others are joining forces to stop the
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FBI and the Department of Justice from gaining access to encryption keys
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used for data security. - DR
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Ladner, Sharyn J. and Hope N. Tillman "How Special Librarians Really Use the
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Internet" posted in 3 parts on PACS-L@UHUPVM1.bitnet (April 1, 1992).
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Ladner and Hope conducted a survey of librarians to find out how they use
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the net, and how valuable they find it. The results of this study are
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interesting, and not just for special librarians. This is the first study of
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its kind that we've seen. - DR
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Love, James P. "Owens Bill Fact Sheet" posted on PACS-L@UHUPVM1.bitnet
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(April 17, 1992). Love, the director of the Taxpayer Assets Project, has
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distributed the Project's Fact Sheet on HR 3459, RThe Improvement of
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Information Access Act.S The bill mandates federal agencies to disseminate
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federal information on the network in a standardized fashion. The fact sheet
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provides some details of the bill, "What you can do," and information on two
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related bills: GPO WINDO and the Freedom of Information Act II. - DR
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Peters, Paul Evan "CNI _Call for Project Descriptions_" posted on PACS-
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L@UHUPVM1.bitnet (March 31, 1992). Peters, the Director of the Coalition
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for Networked Information, has issued a call for project descriptions to those
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of us who are interested in working on the issue of "how networked
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information resources and services are being used to improve teaching and
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learning." If you are interested in this project, you can join the Coalition
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in its work. - DR
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"Questions and Answers with Jane Ryland and Peter Young" Information
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Technology and Libraries 11(1) (March 1992):51-54. Jane Ryland, President
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of CAUSE, and Peter Young, Executive Director of the US National Commision
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on Libraries and Information Sciences, answer astute questions about the
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role of libraries and education in the ongoing development of the NREN. - DR
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Shandle, Jack "Can Data Superhighways put the U.S. in High Gear?" Electronics
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65(2) (February 1992):40-42. Shandle provides some insight into how the
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electronics/computer industry views the NREN, and which companies are
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poised to jump in the fray. Included are two sidebars, "Processing is the
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Bottleneck" and "Japan Lags, But Maybe Not for Long." - DR
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Optical Disc Technologies
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Au, Ka-Neng "Hardware Options: From LANs to WANs" CD-ROM Librarian
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7(3) (March 1992):12-17. As the title suggests, this article reviews the
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plethora of CD-ROM networking configurations currently available, each
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suited to a particular environment. "The question today," writes Au,
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"becomes 'What network?' rather than 'Why network?'" - TR
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Berry, John "CD-ROM: The Medium of the Moment" Library Journal 117(2)
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(February 1, 1992):45-47. This eye-opening survey conducted by Cahners
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Research for LJ shows just how firmly CD-ROM technology has entrenched
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itself in libraries of all types. CD-ROM databases have become more popular
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than their online counterparts in the majority of the 608 libraries surveyed.
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Public libraries projected the largest average expenditure on CD-ROM
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software in fiscal year 1991-92 (Public: $13,533; Academic: $10,519; Special:
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$8,162). - TR
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LaGuardia, Cheryl and Chuck Huber "Digital Dreams: A CD-ROM Users' Wish
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List" Library Journal 117(2) (February 1, 1992):40-43. After installing
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nearly 80 CD-ROM databases running on 20 different software packages,
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LaGuardia and Huber have compiled an intelligent and entertaining list of
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pet-peeves and suggestions that CD-ROM vendors should heed. Their wish
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list runs the gamut, including pricing, installation, interface, documentation
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and support issues. -TR
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O'Connor, Mary Ann "Emerging Standards for CD-ROM Development" CD-ROM
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Professional 5(2) (March 1992):135-137. Citing the establishment of
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standards as the single largest contributor to the success of CD-ROM
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technology, O'Connor provides an overview of the status of current CD-ROM
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standards discussions, proposals and activities. - TR
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VonVille, Helena M. and Bruce A. Weaver "Downloading From CD-ROM: A
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Preliminary Survey" CD-ROM Professional 5(2) (March 1992):48-49. This
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article presents the results of an informal survey conducted by a task force
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appointed by the Ohio State University Libraries regarding downloading data
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from CD-ROM workstations. Although downloading is one avenue libraries
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can explore in an effort to reduce the recurring costs of CD-ROM printing, few
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of the libraries surveyed actively encourage or advertise its availability as
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an option...yet. - TR
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General Category
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Postman, Neil. Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New
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York: Knopf, 1992. While Postman takes shots at technology, he has not
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written a diatribe against it. Taking a long view of technology and its
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effects on culture through the ages though, the author argues that "the
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accusation can be made that the uncontrolled growth of technology destroys
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the vital sources of our humanity." - DR
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Saunders, Laverna M. "The Virtual Library Today" Library Administration
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& Management 6(2) (Spring 1992):66-70. This article looks at where the
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library community stands in the realization of the virtual library. Ms.
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Saunders identifies several projects which have furthered the community
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toward the goal of a virtual library (e.g. project Ariel, which allows for
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high quality images to be scanned and transmitted for document delivery; the
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transparent gateway connections which many OPACs now provide, such as the
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MELVYL system; access to full-text databases, etc.). She also describes
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several pilot projects which are currently shaping the future of the
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electronic library. She asks several important questions which will prove
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crucial to the implementation of a virtual library: what mixture of paper
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and electronic sources is appropriate? How do we ensure that information
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stored electronically will be preserved? Furthermore, the need to train
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naive users in the use of technology and about the available information
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sources is identified. The article concludes with short descriptions of the
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agenda for the Coalition for Networked Information and of the National
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Research and Education Network. - LR
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-------------------------------------------------------------------
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Current Cites 3(4)(April 1992) ISSN: 1060-2356
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Copyright (C) 1992 by the Library, University of
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California, Berkeley. All rights reserved.
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All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of
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their respective holders. Mention of a product in this publication
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does not necessarily imply endorsement of the product.
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Copying is permitted for noncommercial use by computerized
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bulletin board/conference systems, individual scholars, and
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libraries. Libraries are authorized to add the journal to their
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collections at no cost. This message must appear on copied
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material. All commercial use requires permission from the editor,
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who may be reached in the following ways:
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drobison@library.berkeley.edu // drobison@ucblibra // (510)642-7600
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